Means for forming shank stiffeners



Nov. 12, 1929. w. H. NICKERSON v MEANS FOR F 'ORMING SHANK STIFFBNERS Filed Sept. 1928 Patented Nov. 12, 1929 W I LLIAQM H; NIoKERsoN, orniawtron, massacnnsnars MEANS non FORMING SEA-N}; srirrnnnns Application filed September 8, 1928. ;Serial No. 304,628.

This invention relates to means for forming from a work strip of sheet metal, a shoe shank stiffener having a predetermined longitudinal curvature, a longitudinal recess in one -5 side, a correspondinglongitudinal ridge or projection on the opposite side, and a Varying width between its longitudinal edges. The object of the invention is to provide a pair of coacting dies,,having cutting edges adapted to sever a stiffener from a sheet metal work strip, and. thusjform the margin of the stiffener, and a molding rib carried by one of the dies and adapted to provide the stiffener with the above mentioned recess and pro ection, the form of the dies being such that they impart a longitudinal curvature to the stiffener,'one of the dies being a female and the other a male die.

Of the accompanying drawings forming a part ofthis specification,-

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the female die.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the male die Figure 8 is a side view of the male die.

Figure 4 shows the female die in longitudinal section, and by dotted lines a completed stiffener discharged from the female die.

Figure 5 shows the two dies in transverse section separated from each other.

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 5, showsomewhat difthe which is designated by 13. The opposite side of the stiffener has a longitudinal ridge. or projection conforming to the recess. One end of the stiffener has an inclined substant'ially triangular portionjl t, and the opposite Y end a flat portion 15. I I

The dies shown by Figures 1 to 6, are formed to produce a stiffener, formed as above described, but it will be obvious that the invention is not limited to dies adapted to produce this particular form of stiffener, and

that theymay be adapted to cut a margin 12 of any desired contour, impart any desired lon gitudinal curvature to the stilfeneig and mold the stifiener within its margin to form inlone side a recess, andpn the opposlteside a projection or ridge of any desired form. For example, the dies may be adapted to formthe stiffener shown'by Figure 8.

The female dieshown' by Figures-,1 and 4, I may be fixed to the bed of a press, and the male die shown by Figures 2 and 3, may be fixed to a pi-ess platen: movable in a predegermined path toward ;and fromthe female 1e. The body .17 of thefemale die isa metal block having a flat upper face and an oblong opening 18, extending through the block from side to side. The wall of the openingintei sects the fiat upper face,sto form. a continuous female cutting edge 19, surrounding the f opening;

The male die 20 is an oblong metal block, formed to enter the opening-18, and having a continuous male cutting edge 21, formed by the intersection of the external surface of the block with the bottom face :thereof, and

adapted to cooperate with the female cutting edge; 19, in severing I thema'rgin 12 of the stiffener from a work strip 22'bearingon the upper face of the female die. I

The bottom face of themaledie is pro videdwithamolding rib 23, surrounded by and projecting below the male cutting edge 21. The male cutting edge 21 and the rib 23 are longitudinally curved, as shownby Figures 2 and 3, andrthe endsof the rib may be providedwithflat portions 24and25', adapted to form the portions 14: and15 of the 'stiffen-, ers.

parts are such'that when the dies are caused from' the position shown by Figure5, to that.

Theiessentialform and arrangementof the' to coact by the projection ofthe Inale die loo.

shown by Figure 6, a stiffener is severed from a the work strip 22 by the cutting edges, molded to a predetermined form by the ribbed bottom face of the male die,-and forced into the opening 18 of the female die. The fiat form of the top face of the female die, and the curved form of the ribbed bottom face of the" male die causes the portions of the rib 23, and the portionsof the male cutting edge 21 at the ends of the male die, to contact with the work strip before the inter-y mediate portions of said rib and cutting edge so contact, so that the end portions of the stiffener are severed, molded, and forced into thereof in position to be acted upon by the dies, said means being preferably embodied in a top plate 27', having an opening 28,

formed and arranged toreCeiVe the male die, and two spaced apart members 29, interposed between the plate 27' and the female die, the spaced apart inner edges of said members being arranged to guide'the work strip.

Any suitable means maybe provided for longitudinally feeding; the work strip after each retraction of the male'die. The upper portion 18 of the female die opening 1s 7 formed to frictionall-y engage the margins of a plurality of stiffenersforced into the opening by the male die, the frictional engagement s0 opposing downward movement of the engaged stiffeners that the molding of the'under side of each succeeding stlffener is completed by the uppermost engaged stiffener, the recessed side of which constiv tutes a mold member cooperating with the molding rib 23 of the male die. The shankdelivering lower portion of the female die opening 18 is enlarged as shown by Figures 4, 5, and 6, to permit stiffeners that have been forced through the engaging portion 18 to drop freely. I In other words, the sides and ends of the opening 18 are parallel with each other in the portion 18*, and diverge below said portion, as shown'by Figures 4,

5 and 6, so that downward movement of 'stiffeners' in the portion '18 is frictionally opposed, the stiffeners passing downward vfrom said" portion being permitted to drop freely. ,A dropping stiffener is indicated. byFigure 4. p v p Themale die may be fixed to a block 30, adapted tofbe secured to a press platen.

I claim:

1. Shank stiffener forming e means comprising a male die and a female die, the female Idie having a flat top and an opening surrounded by a continuous female cutting V edge, the male die being formed to enter said a b B i i openlng and having a continuous male cutting edge adapted to cooperate with the female cutting edge in severing the margin of a stiffener from a work strip, and a mold ing rib surrounded by and projecting below the male cutting edge, the rib and ma le cut ting edge being longitudinally curved, the arrangement hein g'suelr that when the dies coact, a stiffener is severed from a work strip, curved and molded to a predetermined form and forced into the'female die opening.

2. Shank-stiffener forming means as specified by claim 1, the female die being provided with means for guiding a work strip and maintaining a portion thereof in position to he acted on' by the dies.

3'. Shank-stiffener formingmeansas specified by claim 1," the female die opening' be ing provided with a shanlereceivi ng upper portion formed to frictionall y engage the ma-rglns' of a plurality of stiffeners forced into the opening by the male die,- and so op pose downward movement of the engaged del'ivering lower portion of said opening'bei'ng enlarged topermit completedstifieners to drop freely.

In testimony whereof I h'ave'afiixed my signature.

WILLIAM, NIGKERSON.

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